Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Two Baltimore traditions. The former having 31 seasons to their credit with the latter on its 30th, and counting.

First thought, I thought the Baltimore Colts still had a stronger history/winning tradition. They do have three World Championships to the Ravens' two along with two extra championship game appearances.

However, the Baltimore Colts had just ten playoff appearances overall in their three decades with five of those being division titles whilst the Ravens, thus far, got 16 playoff berths and 8 division titles!

'Old school' sense may have fooled me at first. I went into this thinking that maybe the Ravens needed to win another SB this season and/or next season (31st season) to finish as the "more successful" tradition of the two.

It did take the Ravens their fifth season to finally make the playoffs (SB-win, actually, of course) as the Colts' final six seasons in Baltimore were all losing ones. And, also, it took them until 'season 6' to make that first playoff berth which, of course, was 'Greatest Game Ever Played'.

As inconsistent Brian Billick was the remainder of his HC career following 2000 (along with never winning a playoff game again), he FWIW never missed the post-season more than twice in a row and two-straight misses he only did once, those years being '04 & '05. John Harbaugh, with a Lombardi of his own, has obviously been the bulk of the Ravens' winning tradition thus far. 2015-thru-'17 had been John's dry spell up to now but never again going consecutive years without the playoffs before nor since.

Baltimore Colts got Johnny U, the Ravens got Ray Lewis. Bigger Baltimore football icon? Sure all 'old-schoolers' here such as myself as well will say the former with zero hesitation. Younger generation (unless some are 'old souls') likely the contrary.

Better HC, Weeb of Harbaugh (McCafferty or Billick)? Despite he HC-ing my team's rival, I always thought highly of John Harbaugh. But lately I've asked myself if its my imagination, or has it been...'sacrilege' to say that he may very well be enough a reason why the Ravens have left extra Lombardis on the table? As much as I've been defending Tomlin all this time, I've been doing the same for JH.


Overall thoughts?

The Colts had Johnny U.

For the longest time as a kid, I thought the horseshoes on the Colts' helmets signified "U" for Unitas. Hey, I was 8-9 years old.

I still believe Weeb is better than Harbaugh. Harbaugh has been a more consistent winner but got Flacco and Jackson, who should have won more but cant get past Brady or Mahomes. Who can?

With Weeb Ewbank though, the Colts were truly America's Team which forced the CBS network to tighten their hold on the NFL teams in 1963-64 not wanting NBC to keep the Colts for themselves.
With the money coming from CBS, the NFL could continue to sign top talent but once NBC lost the Colts, they were eyeing Joe Namath going to Ewbank and the Jets. With rights to AFL games in 1965, the merger was inevitable.